Electric-brush holder



Sept. 2 1924. 1,507,347

D. B. FLOWER ELECTRIC snusn' HOLDER Filed larch 11. 1924 2 ShOlLI-Shi'l 1 .Dnwa Bun-om Hams/g, W

v Lj W Sept 2 1924;

D. B. FLOWER ELECTRIC BRUSH HOLDER Filed March' 11 1924' 2 Sheets-Shoot 2 ZJmwntur: DAV/,0 ELI/miss Hen i/ j M Patented Sept. 2, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID BURDESS FLOWER, OF GLENSIDE, PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRIC-BRUSH HOLDER.

Application filed March 11, 1924. Serial No. 698,404.

Be it FLoWER, siding at known that I, DAVID Bunnnss a citizen of the United States, re- Glenside, in the county of Montgomery and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Electric-Brush Holders, whereof the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to means for adjustably supporting an electrical contact brush in cooperative relation with, and under pressure, upon a rotary contact surface. hereinafter eludes a holder As described; my inventlon 1nwhich is merely a guide for a brush which is movable therethrough but otherwise independent of said holder; the

latter serving merely to precisely determine the position of such a brush. My present invention is of the general class claimed in Letters Patent of the United States 1,319,147 granted to me October 21, 1919, in that it includes a metallic box through which the brush is adjustably pressed toward the contact surface by means of a lever operatively connected with a spring which may be adjusted to vary the spring pressure upon the lever and, consequently, the brush.

the pressure upon However, the brush box shown in said Letters Patent is, like other brush boxes of the prior art, formed of cast metal which must be broached or otherwise finished upon the four rectangularly related inner surfaces thereof in relation to which the brush slides through the box. Such boxes are worn by the no brushes which the vibration of aforesaid.

at their inner surfaces not only rmal sliding feed movement of the are held therein, but also by the brushes incident to the of the dynamo or motor which is with the rotary contact surface When such boxes become even slightly worn; there is a tendency for the electric current to spark at each interstice between the box and the brush and thus erode the surfaces of both and interfere with the normal operation thereof. In holders of the prior art aforesaid, the only remedy for such sparking is to discard the worn box and prov considerable cost. Therefore,

pose and ide the holder with a new one at it is the pureffect of my present invention to substitute for the ordinary cast metal brush boxes aforesaid, boxes formed of an assemblage of plane me primarily separate and separable tal plates andspacing blocks, all

of which may be formed of ordinary commercial rolled metal stock having surfaces Which are smoothly finished by the rolling operation forming such stock sheets and bars. Such construction and arrangement have four distinct advantages, viz, first, such rolled metal is far more resistant to wear than the cast metal aforesaid and is consequently more durable. Second, use of such smoothly finished commercial metal avoids the necessity for the costly breaching operation heretofore required. Third, the boxes may be made to hold brushes of different dimensions, with plates-of the same size, by assembling such plates with different sizes of spacing blocks between them. Fourth, the plates and bars forming the box have parallel plane surfaces upon their 0pposite sides, so that they may be reversed to present the outside unworn surfaces inside when the primarily inside surfaces become worn; so that the durability of each piece of such a box, subject to wear, is thus doubled. As hereinafter described; the separable pieces of such a box are normally held in assembled relation by ordinary cap screws which are prevented from loosening under the vibration to which they are subjected by locking strips of peculiar construction.

My invention includes the various novel features of construction and arrangement hereinafter more definitely specified.

In said drawings: Fig. I is a plan view of a holder embodying my invention.

Fig. II is a side elevation of said holder.

Fig. III is a front elevation of said holder.

Fig. IV is a perspective view of one of the two locking strips shown in Fig. III, but in the form to which it must be bent to release the cap screws which hold the box plates.

Fig. V is a perspective View of one of the reversible box plates shown in Figs. I, II and III.

In said figures; the brush 1, which is a rectangular block, is mounted to reciprocate in a box 2 but is thrust toward the rotary contact surface 3 by the cross heads t of the levers 5 which are fulcrumed upon the studs 6 and pressed in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. II by the coiled wire springs 7 which encircle said studs 6 be tween the bifurcations 8 of the respective levers. Each of said springs 7 has its outer end 9 engaged with its respective lever and of the respective stud 6, as indicated in Figs.

I and II. Said studs 6 are mounted for rotary adjustmentinaxially alined bearings 13 and 14 of the holder frame 15 and have i the circumferential series of conical spot sockets 16 for selective engagement with the set screws 18 which are in respective screw threaded engagement with the bearings 13 andhave their inner conical ends engaging one of said socketslti, as indicated in Fig. II. Each of said studs 6 is also provided with a series of openings 20,'preferably extending diametrically therethrough, 'to receive across bar by Which said studs may be turned to adjust the tension of the respective springs 7 when said set screws 18 are retracted. I i

- Said brush holder frame 15 is provided with the vertically extending clamping flange 22 having the slot 23 for a bolt whereby the entire holder may be detachably adjustably connected with a dynamo or motor provided with said rotary contact surface ,3. However,- it is to be understood that any. other suitable means may be employedtosupport the holder in the desired position. u

I find 'tconvenient toprovide said holder 15 with sockets 25 upon opposite sides thereof, each having a pair of set screws 26 to clamp an electric'conductor, whereby current is supplied to'said holder, 15 and thence to said-brush 1. Moreover, I prefer to provide eachof'said levers 5 with flexible conductor 28, which is rigidly, connected therewith by the rivet 29 at one end; the opposite ends of said conductors 28 being respectively connected with said holder'frame 15 by screws 30. Y

As shown; said holder 15 has a flange 31 with a plane face 32to which said box 2 is secured 'by four cap screws 34 which are lockedi'n the assembled position shown by the metal lockingstrips 35 which are primarily flat butwhich are upturned at their ends as indicated in Fig, IV, and thereafter bent aroundtlie heads ofsaid screws 34: as indicated in Figs. I, II and 111.

As shown, said box 2 is formed of two opposite plates 87 which are precisely alike and of the configuration shown in III "and V, so that they may be reversed to present either of their opposite plane faces to-' ward said brush 1. Said plates 37 are separatedin any desired spaced relation'corresponding with the thickness of the brush '1, by the spacing blocks 38 which may be of different interchangeable sizes corresponding with the different thicknesses of such brushes 1. V

It is to be understood that when the box 2 shown becomes worn upon its inner surfaces; saidlocking strips 35 may, be bent out at their ends to release the heads of said screws 3d and the latter withdrawn from ufacturing about two hundred different forms of holders within the description of.

the claims of my Letters Patent 1,319,147.

37 which may then be reversed,

In fact, I am man- I Therefore, I do not desire to limit myself to the precise details of construction and arrangement herein set forth, as it is obvious that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the essential features of my invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim: i

1. In an electric brush holder; the combination with a frame a plane face for engagement with abrush box; said flange having two pairs of screw threaded sockets at respectively opposite ends thereof; a brush box formed of two similar parallel plane faced sheet metal plates, which are symmetrical and reversible to present either of their plane faces toward the brush; said plates being: separated, in, parallel spaced relation, by spacing blocks; said plates and spacing blockshav ing pairs of holes therethrough registering with the screw sockets in said flange; sheet metal locking strips each having a pair of holes registering with the respectivepairs of said screw sockets; two pairs of cap screws extending through said plates and spacing blocks in screw threaded'engagement with said sockets, and having heads resting upon said locking strips; the ends ofvsaid strips being so bent in engagement with the heads of said screws as to normally prevent rotation of thelatter from assembled position; whereby a rectangular smooth faced slide bearing for a brush is afforded between said plates and blocks; a brush slidably fitted in said box; three axially alined stud bearings in said frame, two at respectively opposite bearing arranged to selectively engage said sockets; two. levers each having bifurcations extending between said intermediate bearing and the respective outer bearings and journaled upon said stud and arranged to press the brush; coiled springs respectively encircling said studs between thebifurcations of the respective levers; each spring having one end engaging its lever and having the other end engaging the slot in its stud.

2. In an electric brush holder; the combination with a frame having a plane face for engagement with a brush box, with two pairs of screw threaded sockets at respectively opposite ends thereof; a brush box formed of two similar parallel plane faced sheet metal plates, which are symmetrical and reversible to present either of their plane faces toward the brush; said plates being separated, in parallel spaced relation, l'iyspacing blocks; said plates and spacing blocks having pairs of holes therethrough registering with said screw sockets; sheet metal locking strips eachhaving a pair of holes registering with the respective pairs of v said screw sockets; two pairs of screws extending through said plates and spacing blocks in screw threaded engagement with said sockets and having heads resting upon said locking strips; the ends of said strips beingso bent in engagement with the heads of said screws as to normally prevent rotation of the latter from assembled position; whereby a smooth faced slide bearing for a brusl'i is afforded between said plates and blocks; a brush slidably fitted in said box; three axially alined stud bearings in said frame, two at respectively opposite sides thereof and one intermediate of the width of said frame; two cylindrical studs mounted in said bearings, the inner ends of both studs beirg journaled in said intermediate ljiearing; each of said studs having a longitudiiial slot, a circumferential sockets, and a wrench hold at one end thereof; set screws in said outer stud bearing arranged to selectively engage said sockets; two levers each having bifurcations extending between said intermediate bearing and the respective outer bearings and journaled upon'said stud and arranged to press the brush; coiled springs respectively encircling said studs between the bifurcations of the respective levers each spring having one end engaging its lever and having the other end engaging the slot in its Stud.

3; In an electric brush holder; the combination with a frame having a face for engagement with a brush box, with two pairs of screw threaded sockets at respectively opposite ends thereof; a brush box formed of two similar parallel plane faced sheet metal plates, which are reversible to present either of their plane faces toward the brush; said plates being separated, in parallel spaced relation, by spacing blocks; said plates and spacing blocks having pairs of holes therethrough registering with said screw sockets; sheet metal locking strips series of spot a each having a pair of holes registering with the respective pairs of said screw sockets; two pairs of screws extending through said plates and spacing blocks in screw threaded engagement with said sockets and having heads resting upon said locking strips; the ends of said strips being so bent in engagement with the heads of said screws as to normally prevent rotation of the latter from assembled position; whereby a smooth faced slide bearing for a brush is afforded between said plates and blocks; a brush slidably fitted in said box; axially alined stud bearings in said frame; a cylindrical stud mounted in said bearings, said stud having a longitudinal slot, and a circunr ferential series of spot sockets; a set screw arranged to selectively engage said sockets; a lever having bifurcations extending between said bearings and journaled upon said stud and arranged to press the brush; and a coiled spring encircling said stud between the bifurcations of said lever; said spring having one end engaging its lev r and having the other end engaging the slot in its stud.

4. In an electric brush. holder; the coinbination with a frame having a face for engagement with a brush box, with two pairs of screw threaded sockets at respectively opposite ends thereof; of a brush box formed of two similar parallel pla e faced sheet metal plates, which are symmetrical and reversible to present either of their plane faces toward the brush; said plates being sc arated, in parallel spaced relation, by spacing blocks; said plates and spacing blocks having pairs of holes 'therethrough registerii'ig with the screw sockets in said flange; sheet metal locking strips each having a pair of holes registering with the respective pairs of said screw sockets; two pairs of cap screws extending through said plates and spacing blocks in screw threaded engagement with said sockets and having heads resting upon said locking strips; the ends of said strips being so bent in engagement with the heads of said screws as to normally prevent rotation of the latter from assembled position; whereby a smooth faced slide bearing for a brush is afforded between said plates and blocks; a brush slidably fitted in said box; axially alined stud bearings in said frame; a stud mounted in said bearings; a lever journaled upon said stud and arranged to press the brush; and a coiled spring encircling said stud and pressing said lever.

5. In an electric brush holder; the combination with a frame having a face for engagement with a brush box and screw threaded sockets; of a brush box formed of two parallel plane faced sheet metal plates, which are reversible to present either of their plane faces toward the brush; said which are reversible to present? their plane faces toward the brush; spac ng plates being separated, ;-in parallel j spaced relation, by spacing spacing blocks having registering with said screw "sockets; screws extending through said plates and spacing blocks in screw threaded-engagement withsaid sockets; means normally preventing rotation of said screws fromassembledposi tion; whereby a smooth faced slide bearing for a brush is 6. In an electric brushholder; the combination with a frame having a face for iengagement with a brush box andscrew threaded sockets; of a brush box including parallel plane faced sheet 'metal plates,

blocks separating said plates in parallel relation; said plates and spacingblockshaving holes therethrough registering'withsaid screw sockets; screws extending through spacmg blocks in engagesaid plates and mentwlthsaid sockets; means normally preventing rotation of said screws from" assembled position; whereby a smoothafaced, shdebearmg for abrush is afforded betweensaid plates and blocks; I fitted. in said box; and means arranged to press the brush 'to' operative position. 3

' 7. In an electric brush holder,

' bination with a frame having a facefor engagement with a brush box and screw threaded sockets; of a brush box'including parallel plane faced sheet'metal plates, which are reversible to presenteither of their plane faces toward the brush; spacing blocks sep-- arating said plates in parallel relation; said plates and spacing blocks having holes there'- through registering with said screw sockets; screws extending through, said plates, and spacing blocks in engagement with said sockets; means normally preventing rotation of said screws from assembled position; whereby a smooth faced slide bearing brush to operative position.

engagement with a brush box and screw blocks; saidplates and holes ,therethrough afforded between said plates and blocks; a brush slidably fitted in said lever, journaled I either of eluding two parallel plane reversible =-to-present either of their plane facestoward thebrush ;"spacing-blo cks a brush slidably:

the comfor brush is afforded between saidpla-tes and: blocks; and means arranged to "press the.

' Vania, th's 7th day of March, 192.4.

,8. In an electric brush holder, the com-' bination with a frame having. a face forwhich are a reversible to present either of their plane faces toward-the brush; spacingblocks separating said theret-hrough registering with said screw sockets; screws extending through said plates. and spacing blocks engagement with said socketsg whereby a smooth faced: slide bear-..

and reversibleto present-either of theinplane faces toward the brush; rectangular spacing blocks between said plates; and screws, extending through said plates and'blocks,i detachably connecting them: with said frame.

10. In an electric: brush holder, the combinationw-ithaframe; of'a brush box in-.

plates,

betweensaid plates; andscrews. extendmg through said plates andblocks," .detachably.

connecting them;- with-saidiug- -str ips, eachacommon to -tWO',Of-. said plates in" parallel relation said plates and spacing blocks having holes faced sheet metalframe :andslocle.

and means arranged to.

screws, and arranged to normally prevent rotation ofsaid screws. i

1 1. In an electric brush holder, the .com-

bination with; a frame; of a brush box in-v eluding two parallelplaneifaced sheet metal plates, reversibleto .prcsent e-i-ther of their plane faces toward through said plates andiblocks, detachably connecting them with said frame and means arranged to .normal-lyprevent rotation. of

said screws- .12. In an electric brush holder,..a brush box-including twoparallelplane faced sheet metal plates, reversible to presenteither of their plane faces toward thev brush spacing DAVID BURDESS .FLO'VVER. 1

Witnesses: H. B. MQVEIGH I HARRYLG. :SQHAEEER:..; :5.

the brush spacing blocks between said platespiandscrews extending 

